S E P T E M B E R , 1 9 6 7 With August Radio Features
THE B I O LA HOUR CALIFORNIA Arroy Grande-San Luis Obispo
Bìola Hour B R O A D C A S T E R Monthly Publication of the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP Vol. 7 No. 9 SEPTEMBER, 1967 STAFF President .......... S. H. SUTHERLAND Editor ................... AL SANDERS Production ...... _..... .BILL EHMANN Printing ...............CHURCH PRESS Published monthly by the Radio Dept. BIOLA SCHOOLS & COLLEGES 13800 Biola Avenue La Mirada, California 90638 CONTENTS THEY THAT LOVE........... 3 THEY THAT KNOW .......... 5 THEY TH AT W A IT — D. Stuart Briscoe .......... 7 GOD'S DESIGN FOR OUR HOME — Roy R. Kraft _. 9 PANEL DISCUSSIONS ...... 11 PARABLES A N D PEARLS ..23 EXAMPLES — Al Sanders -26 COLOSSIANS ...................29 THE CHR IST IAN 'S A R M AM EN T — Lloyd T. Anderson ........ 31 COVER: Rev. John F. MacArthur, Jr. (center), is pictured on this month's Biola Broadcaster cover with execu tives of Talbot Theological Semi nary and Biola Schools. From left to right are Dr. Robert L. Thomas, registrar; Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, dean of Talbot Theological Semi nary; Mr. MacArthur; Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, president of Biola, and Mr. Al Sanders, vice president of Public Relations.
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YOUR CHR ISTIAN WILL Did you know that there is a way to invest in Biola for the training of students while saving costly estate taxes! Ultimatelyyou may be able to leave mere money ter your loved ones. As a Fellowship member you are under no obligation when you write ter information or counsel. BIOLA STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT
August Radio Message
THEY THAT LOVE THE LORD
by D . Stuart Briscoe Torchbearer’s Fellowship, England
T here are many wonderful rela tionships which the believer is privileged to share with the God whom he serves. In Judges 5:31 we read, “So let all thine enemies perish, 0 Lord: but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.” Here we find the union intended to exist between the child of God and his Lord. We talk a great deal about loving the Lord, but one of the greatest tragedies is that we don’t always get around to doing it. Christ’s big ques tion to us in these days is the one He asked Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you really love me?” In the Greek He used the word agape. This is al ways used when talking about the love of God. Peter answered weakly, “Mas ter, I’m very fond of you.” The second time He asked, “Simon, do you really love Me with the same kind of love wherewith the Lord loved you?” The response, however, wasn’t any better. The third time the query was put to him Peter was grieved and terribly hurt. He had been confronted with the fact of his failure to love the way he
should. He had only been impressed and influenced by the Lord, so that the result was a strong attachment or fondness. Peter hadn’t really been enjoying the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit to be given unto him. The picture was com pletely changed on the day of Pente cost. This man became a new creature, filled with the Holy Spirit. It is my belief that loving the Lord is something the Holy Spirit does. This is His activity within the soul. If you really want to love the Lord, but have to admit that you haven’t really gotten much further than being extremely fond of Him, you need the Holy Spirit to fill and flood your life. If you are prepared to abandon your life to Him, for the Holy Spirit dwells in all born-again believers, let Him accomplish His own eternal purpose in and through you. Just tell Him, “Blessed Holy Spirit, You came to live within me, to make the risen Christ real within my soul. I want You to know that I admit You haven’t been allowed to control, fill and flood my life with Yourself. I’ve been too 3
“Percy the Printer.” People tease him because he is a Christian. I have heard more than one person say, how ever, “If ever there is a Christian around these parts it’s little ‘Percy the Printer.’ ” The reason is because he is just like the sun. One couldn’t mistake him for anything else. There is a certain and unmistak able radiance about the sun. Many young people, and we seem to have an abundance of the long haired vari ety over in England, tell me that whenever they have gone to church it always seemed to be such a miser able business. One fellow told me that he became in te re s ted in spiritual things and decided to go to a church. He didn’t want to go in but stood outside for the length of the whole service. As he watched the people come out he was greatly disillusioned. He said, “They all looked just as mis erable as when they went in.” The Bible says, “They that love the Lord will be like the sun.” Do you have a radiance about you? So many are bitter and cynical, their entire approach is negative. Wherever we go we are to bring life in such measure that eternal life has been in us. To the degree in which we allow the Spirit of God to fill our lives we can demonstrate a sun-like quality of victorious existence. Illimitable power is available to us. The next time you see the sun, ask yourself, “Is that a picture of me?”
busy controlling my own life. Right at this moment I want you to captivate me.” If you do this you will discover that you begin to love the Lord in a way that you didn’t dream possible. This is not a love that just talks and sings hymns, but one which evidences itself by action. A young man wrote to his girl friend all sorts of wonderful things. He said he loved her so much that he was prepared to climb the highest mountain only to be by her side. He promised that he would swim the widest ocean just to be with her. He further affirmed that he would fight the biggest lion for the privilege of her company. Going on this way for a few pages of the most expensive lit erature he drew his remarks to a close. After an affectionate farewell and a few little “X’s” on the bottom, he added this P.S., “I’ll be over Fri day night if it doesn’t rain.” This sort of love is cheap and is only a lot of talk. If the Lord asked you the ques tion, “Do you really love Me?” how would you answer it?” What happens to people who really love the Lord is found here in Judges 5 :31, “Let them that love the Lord be as the sun when he goes forth in his might.” One of the strangest things is for an Englishman to talk to people living in California or other sunny areas of the United States about the sun. We just don’t know too much about it over in England. The only type of sunshine we have is the liquid kind. Flying above the clouds in Europe, however, I have seen the sun and I love it. I have never mis taken the sun for anything else, even though I haven’t seen it too often. It is absolutely unmistakable. We, as Christians are to be as the sun, so distinctive, so radiantly clear in our testimony. We desperately need Christians who are absolutely distinctive about their testimony. I have a wonderful friend who lives way up in the North of Eng land. He is a printer who is not very tall and who has a bent spine so that he is almost doubled over. Around town he is known affectionately as
Executive Oficers of the ArizonaBible College student councilmeet together for prayer and planning.Pictured abovefrom left to right are RichardPulk, vice president from Calais, Maine, Lawrence Corcoran, president from Phoenix, and Bettyan e Shepperson, secretary- treasurer from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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THEY THAT KNOW THE LORD
by D . Stuart Briscoe
T he wonderful thing about wait ing upon the Lord is the blessed discovery that we can enjoy a new quality of experience. God desires that we should love Him with every part of our being. As we do, some thing wonderful happens. We are able to go forth to victory with a new vigor and vitality only He can give. In Daniel 11:32 we are told, “And such as do wickedly against the cov enant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” There is a very clear distinction be tween knowing about the Lord and knowing the Lord. I know quite a bit about some of the very famous peo ple of the world, and yet I have met very few of them. It is possible to be fully acquainted with all the details concerning a well-known individual and yet not be personally acquainted with him. This is one of the trage dies of the 20th century. Our church es are full of people who know about the Lord, but so many of them have never become personally involved through faith. In John 14 the Lord spoke to Phil lip, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?” Here was one who walked, talked, ate and slept with the Mas ter, he had spent three years with Him, but for some strange reason, he didn’t realty know the Saviour. There is only one thing worth glory ing in, and that is that we know Christ. Paul said, “I count everything but loss except for one thing: know ing Christ Jesus.” Peter’s last words were, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Get to know Him bet ter! There is only one way you can know the Lord, and that is by revela tion. God takes the initiative and re veals Himself to us. God gave Daniel a glorious revela
tion of His power as well as His per son. When they talked of putting him in the fiery furnace, Daniel’s com ment in readiness was, “He is able and He will!” He had a revelation of God’s person, power, and purpose. He really knew his Lord. How does one get to know another person? It comes through spending time with him. We need to spend ev ery moment of every day with Christ. It is not sufficient to have just a few minutes at the beginning or at the ending of the day. The entire 24 hours must be shared with Him. The days, with all their joys, sor rows, tribulations and opportunities, are to be lived with an awareness of God’s matchless presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Put the Lord on the spot; test Him and claim His promises. The more you trust Him, the more faithful and thrilling you will find Him to be. There are two interesting things about people who really know the Lord as suggested in our text. It says they shall be strong and do exploits. Daniel reveals strength quite clearly. He lived in very dangerous days and yet was a man with a remarkable ca pacity to relax and be at peace. This is strength. The reason for his con fidence in the midst of danger was that he knew his God. Daniel lived in very disappointing days, too. Those who should have been pillars were crumbling away. Even in the face of failures from others Daniel’s tremendous confidence was unshaken. He was always con sistent. He had an inner reservoir of strength and power because he knew his Lord. He could say with calm assurance, “God is able and He will.” Your strength, too, can be made per fect in weakness. We are also told that those who love the Lord do exploits. It is too bad that we have neglected the doc- 5
brush up against it by mistake. When it fell to the floor, it broke into a myriad of pieces. He waited rather ap prehensively for the fight to begin, but instead, his wife laughed and told him, “Never mind, honey. It’s all right. You couldn’t help it. We can get another one.” A day or two later, when he was late for dinner, she gave him a big hug and assured him, “That’s all right, dear; I know you’ve worked hard and I don’t mind waiting for you. It’s worth it.” Before the week was over, he told her frankly, “I don’t know what’s come over you. That terrible temper is gone. I f the Lord can do that for you, you’d better remember to pray for me, because this is the kind of sal vation I need.” Perhaps there’s some besetting sin in our lives keeping a loved one from Jesus Christ, if not in your own house hold, perhaps right there in the neigh borhood. Are you showing others the love of Christ in trine of works not as a means of salvation, but as a proof of it. When we stand at the judgment seat of Christ, He is going to test our works (I Cor. 3). We are saved by grace, through faith and not of works, but rather unto works. Daniel seemed to specialize in ex ploits. When the edict came that they were all to eat the king’s meat, Dan iel was absolutely uncompromising. He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. There wasn’t anything negative about his testi mony either. When there was trouble over praying Daniel wasn’t an exhi bitionist who wanted everyone to see what he was doing. He knew God and without fear of man opened his windows to reveal his faith. Since he had always prayed with his windows open there was no need to stop now just because the king was annoyed. While he was thrown to the lions, he was almost oblivious of the situation. The person who didn’t sleep and who got up early was the king. Daniel was strong and did exploits because he knew his God. To the degree which we know the Lord will be the area whereby we show strength and do exploits. The question now resolves itself for each one of us personally, “How well do I know Him?” Commit your life to the Saviour afresh. Put Christ to the test and prove Him for yourself. This is the way you get to know Him bet ter. UNCONTROLLED TEMPER There was a Christian woman who had frequently requested prayer for her husband’s salvation. Still he re mained cold and hard. He didn’t hesi tate to tell the preacher when he asked that the reason was he didn’t see anything in his wife’s life that gave her victory over an uncontrollable tem per. When the pastor shared this with the woman, she felt terribly convicted, and vowed, with the Lord’s strength, that things would be different. It wasn’t long after that she was putting up a new lamp in the hall. She wanted to surprise her husband. When he came home, he happened to Miss Jennifer Hillis, daughter of missionary leader Dr. Dick Hillis,was presented the spe cial Alumni Scholarship Award by the gradu ates of theschool at a recent annual banquet. Dr. J. Richard Chase, Academic Vice President of Biola looks on at the timeof the ceremony. Dr. Hillis, a graduate of Biola, is Founder- Director of Overseas Crusades. 6 T 1HEY THAT WAI by D . Stuart Briscoe O NE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL prom ises of Scripture is found in Isa. 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run. and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” The Lord intends that His promises should be thoroughly enjoyed by His people. All too often, however, we never seem to fully appropriate them. It may be that we don’t understand that they are to be claimed with those condi tions fulfilled which are always at tached to them. The first promise is that we can re new our strength. The word “renew” means to “exchange.” We can trade our weak strength for the power the Lord desires to give us. Examine your own heart to see if you have claimed this promise of God. Are you living in the conscious enjoyment of this realization? Here is a promise of new vigor. If there is one thing we des perately need in our lives as well as in the church it is this. Christ tells us to be strong and of a good courage. We are urged not to be afraid. The reason these exhortations are made is because the Lord knows that of our selves, these are the things we aren’t. If you go about it God’s way you will be able to exchange all your fear, weakness, and d e fe a t for His strength, thereby asserting a new vigor. The second promise is that we can “mount up with wings as eagles.” Re cently, while down in Jamaica, I found the weather so tremendously hot that some people took pity on me. I was invited to their beautiful home located on the hillside overlooking the harbor of Kingston. The cool breezes were blowing and for an Englishman, not used to the heat, it was delightful. While there in the mountains I no ticed a bird soaring to great heights above. While we had a magnificent view this winged creature could see much more. It was gliding along with the currents just resting on the aero dynamics provided by God in His matchless creation. The Lord tells us that if we will only claim His promises He will do the same for us. We will not be earth- bound anymore, limited to our own narrow vision. To be liberated from a materialistic approach we need a vis ion enabling us to mount up and see things as God does. Remember, where there is no vision, the people perish. There is a dreadful lack of vision concerning the need of the world all around us. Too many can see no fur ther than “the end of their nose.” Ask the Lord for a new vision and be as sured that He will give it to you. The third consideration given to us in this portion is, “They shall run and not be weary.” This is quite a para dox, for even among young people who are quite healthy and verile, run ning causes tiredness. God, you see, is promising a new kind of vitality. This is the opportunity to come up against hard situations and to run straight through them. It is the ability to be consistent and to keep on with a joy in your heart that is obvious, over whelming and overflowing. Do you ever get discouraged? Perhaps you are a minister and you have been preach ing for a long time. You have been running the race that was set before you but you have grown really weary. Claim God’s promise. Maybe you are a Sunday school teacher and have a group of young people who have just gotten you down. Don’t give up; the Lord wants to refresh you. The final promise is “They shall walk and not faint.” The Christian life is often described as a walk. Don’t make the fatal error of think ing that it is merely a step. Too many 7 only take the step of accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and then that is all. We must take one step after another. As we have re ceived the Lord Jesus Christ we are to walk in Him. Since we took the first step of committing ourselves to Him we must constantly draw upon all that he has available for us. Here is a promise of victory over defeat. I KNOW NOT, BUT HE KNOWS I know not why He has taken The work that I loved from my hand, The work over which I had labored, And for which I had hoped and planned. Nor why He has led me hither, With no one to help or to teach; But I trust in His infinite wisdom. He knows what is best for each. Perhaps, even here. He has waiting Some work I have failed to see; Some mission of love and compassion He has kindly reserved for me. By keeping both cheerful and hope ful, When others are sad and depressed; By doing each day what He bids me. And trusting to Him for the rest. I know there are ways of serving Which He only can understand;. He has taken the larger work from me, But the smaller is still at hand. And so I will lovingly labor. Just where He has placed me to day; And trust to His wisdom for guidance To walk in His own chosen way. — C. Howell Have you ever felt that every step was like quick sand? The more you struggled the deeper down you sank. Tell the Saviour, “Lord, You prom ised that You would make it Your personal responsibility that those who wait upon You should walk and not faint. I want Your promised victory.” Remember this, however, it isn’t enough merely to claim the promises. We must also fulfill the conditions. Simply stated, it is to wait upon the Lord. We must be prepared to make Christ Lord of our lives without any reserve. It doesn’t mean that we are to hang around waiting for something to come “out of the blue.” We are rather to depend implicitly upon the Lord, expecting Him to work out each problem in and through us. One day I waited in a church for a young lady. I wasn’t just “hanging around,” hoping she might come. I was utterly depending upon her in earnest expectation. My life was com mitted to her and hers was to me. To “wait upon the Lord” means that you simply commit all that you are to Him, expecting that He will indeed keep His promises. Why not fulfill the conditions right now? Claim that which He desires to give: vigor, vis ion, vitality, and victory. Do this and you will have a great day! NON-ESSENTIALS The Berlin Art Gallery contains an interesting picture by the artist Men- zel. It’8 only partially finished. The painting shows Frederick the Great talking to his generals. Unfortunately, there’s a bare patch in the center of the painting which has some charcoal markings in outline indicating approxi mately how the figure might have looked, had the artist finished it. The rest of the picture is lavishly complet ed in lovely oil colors; however, the main character is practically a blank. Menzel died before he had the oppor tunity of finishing his masterpiece. This illustrates how many people put the majority of their time on the non- essentials when the most important aspect of life, things which truly count for eternity, are overlooked or set aside for another day. But that day never seems to come and they die without having placed Christ at the very center of all their activities and endeavors. The painting of your life will be in complete without the Lord’s being the One on whom you have focused. Don’t spend your time majoring on the minor things. Don’t give Christ merely a place, nor even the prominent position. Make certain that in all things, He has the pre-eminence. 8 by Dr. Roy Kraft Pastor of the Twin Lakes Baptist Church Santa Cruz, California E very design of God is perfect. This most certainly applies to the plans He has given for the home. The problem is that man is not will ing to follow the pattern God has ordained. The Word of God gives us three main purposes for marry ing and establishing the home. One is to provide a deep and lasting com panionship between husband and wife. A man was not made to be a playboy, and woman is not a play thing. Second is that there might be the management and control of the dynamic explosive function of sex so that it may serve rather than disrupt human life. The third is to bring people into the world, providing for the care of body, mind and spirit. Unfortunately, h o m e s aren’t the training institutions God intended they should be. In the beginning, the Lord made a helpmeet for man. The meaning behind this lovely word suggests someone exactly suited for his spe cific needs. How important to seek God’s guidance for life’s mate! There are so many attacks upon the home today which cause countless thou sands of divorces every year. Satan seeks to break down the home if he possibly can. Failing here, he will then attempt to make it unhappy. He wants to separate the home and its members from the influence of the Lord. See how successful he is in so many cases. Unfortunately, p r id e keeps many people from seeking help before it’s too late. Divorce today is so common that it is readily accepted as a part of our age. The Bible, however, clearly teaches against it. The so-called “new morality” would stress pre-marital s e x experience and, in fact, would be glad to do away with marriage altogether. Oth er things which add to weakening the home’s battlements are the transfer of religious training outside of the household, and the lessening of par ental control. The Lord has given very implicit instructions concerning a right rela tionship in the home. In addition, it is not at all complicated. God has given to the husband love. Notice how this is repeated in the fifth chap ter of Ephesians. No husband really loves his wife unless he provides for her every need both spiritual as well as physical. To the wives the word from Scripture is submission. If you don’t want to follow out this exhorta tion, it would be better to remain single; otherwise you are in for some real trouble. Ephesians 6:1, 2 pre sent truths for children which are both honor and obedience. However, children can’t obey us as parents un less we give them the loving instruc tion and guidance so vitally needed. If you will only follow God’s won derful pattern for marrying, you can enjoy heaven on earth. May the Lord give us that home which will be a little heaven on earth. 9 Dr. Roy Kraft path. Then he pointed to a patch of snow over which the fellow had intend ed to walk. He showed him that it was a mere crust of ice covering over a great crevasse, opening into the deep recesses of the glacier. His fool-hardy short cut would have ended in disaster. There is an interesting parallel here for our own lives. Whether we realize it or not, a similar peril besets the believer’s pathway. We, too, at times may feel that our Guide is too slow, taking us along unnecessa/ry detours. We can’t seem to understand His leading. We look for bright and sunny days when times of clouds oppress us. Sick ness and suffering On the surface seem like such wasteful detours. Can you see the end from the beginning as He can? “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own under standing; In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” NECESSARY DETOURS Some year8 ago, when Dr. James McConkey, a well-known Bible teacher, was crossing Europe, he paused in Switzerland to see the majestic beauty of the country side. He joined a group of tourists who were going on a moun tain hike, led by a competent guide. It was amazing to him to see the narrow paths and icy gorges which had to be traversed. In one area especially, the Alpine guide seemed to take them on a wide and unnecessary detour. One fellow, who by now was pretty well tired out, saw no reason for the extra steps and decided to take a short cut, going straight across, instead of fol lowing around with the guide. Realiz ing the man’s danger, the guide fran tically rushed back and with a flying tackle brought him down and pulled him back across the glacier to the l i r r r r T Pictured above is the TwinLakesBaptistChurch in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Roy Kraft, a Biotagraduate, is pastorof thechurch. 10 Q. Denver, Colo. — “We have heard over one broadcast, not the station which carries your 'program, that it is wrong for us to use Christmas trees. Do you think that Jeremiah 10:1-5 gives this suggestion to us? I t is one of the verses which this or ganization uses.” A. This portion has no reference at all to what we know in our Christ mas observance. These people were nature worshippers, and what they were doing was idolatry. Who wor ships a Christmas tree? It is simply a festive, decorative item for the season. It is true that Christmas is over-commercialized, but this is no reason why we shouldn’t use the time for the glory of the Lord. We as Christians should constantly empha size to our children as well as to ourselves that the central point of Christmas is the gift of the Lord Je sus Christ who came to give His life for our redemption. Q. Portland, Ore. — “What does it mean in the Bible when it says, 'Who curseth father or mother shall die the death’?” A. This is found in Exodus 21:15. There was actually capital punish ment for the infraction of this com mandment. God means for respect to be shown for parents. They are real ly heaven’s representatives on earth. Death was probably by stoning. I t is a sobering thought when we consid er how lightly most people treat this problem today. Keep in mind, how ever, that if a parent expects re spect from his child, he should act as the godly leader the Lord intend ed him to be. Parents are not to pro voke the children to wrath. Fathers, especially, are not to treat children in such a way that they become dis couraged. We can’t lead our children any farther than we ourselves have gone. Q. Billings, Mont. — “Could you give me help on Luke 12:10?” A. This verse has to do with blas phemy against the Holy Spirit. This is really attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit. The minis try of the Holy Spirit is to point people to the Saviour. As long as an individual rejects the Lord, he can not be forgiven. In a sense this makes a liar out of the Holy Spirit. Q. San Francisco, Calif. — “Was Jonah actually dead in the belly of the fish, or was he ju st unconscious?” A. We do not believe he was dead. 11 Scripture tells us that he prayed un to the Lord out of the fish’s belly. The very fact that he prayed about his physical condition would indicate that he was still in this life and con scious. In verse 7 he says, “When my soul fainted within me.” He didn’t say his soul had died, or that he had gone out of this life. Contrast this with Lazarus in John 11. He was brought back and there is noth ing stated about his praying before he was raised, while we do hear about his statements afterwards. Do not make the parallels between Jonah and our Lord Jesus beyond the pe riod of time. Everything else was different. He was only a man. He was disobedient. He was asked to go to only one nation, etc. Q. Bakersfield, Calif. — “I have heard you answer this once before, but could you tell me i f it’s possible for a Christian to commit suicide and still be saved? Some say they are demon-possessed.” A. We do not believe that all people who commit suicide are demon-pos sessed. Temporarily, at least, they are mentally deranged. It is possi ble that one may commit suicide and still be saved. At the moment his mind is sick and unbalanced and he is not responsible. Q. Reedley, Calif. — “What does it mean in the Bible when it tells us that we are not to have anything to do with spirits?” A. This refers to consulting with mediums and spiritists. The hidden things that God wants to conceal be long to Him. We are not to pry into areas which God has not revealed in His Word. Much that purports to be divine revelation comes from a de monic source. Test out whether these things are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that con fessed that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confessed not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” See what these individ uals say about the incarnation of the Second Person in the Godhead. Q. Glendale, Calif. — "How can I be sure that God hears my prayers, and how can / improve my prayer life? Why is there an empty feeling after I pray sometimes?” A. Remember the scriptural truth, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” We can be sure that God answers our prayers because He has told us in His Word that He does so. Take Him a t His Word. We may not always have our prayers answered according to our own desires. You must have more faith in God than you have in your prayers. If you have your faith firm ly fixed in God and realize that He is the One who knows best what you need and what should come to you, Dr. Ray A. Myers, (left) chairman of the Biola Board of Directors, presents a special plaque to Dr. Wallace Emerson who retiresthis year from the Biola staf after serving nearlytwo decades. Dr. Emerson was first president of Westmont Colege and joined the Biola staff heading upthe department ofpsycholgy.Look ing on is Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, Biola president. 12 then regardless of how your prayer is answered, your faith will not be shaken. You can improve your prayer life by thinking more about God than you think about your prayers. Q. Santa Barbara, Calif. — “What’s the matter with a person when he loses his enthusiasm for living? I ’m in some kind of a rut. Things I used to get excited about just don’t in terest me anymore. What can I do?” A. Someone has appropriately said that a ru t is simply a grave with both ends kicked out. You may feel like this at times. One quick thought is that it could be old age ereeping on. More deeply, when a person be gins to lose his enthusiasm for liv ing, it could be that he is out of fellowship with the Lord. With the world in the condition in which we find it, what reason has one for liv ing, apart from the Lord? Make sure you have definite contact with Him through prayer and Bible study. For get about yourself and get interested in the church or some special spirit ual project for the Lord. Try to help others, for there are untold people much less fortunate than yourself. So many folks feel sorry for them selves. Such practice might enable you to regain your enthusiasm for living making your life worthwhile for the glory of the Lord. There might be a physical reason. Check with your doctor. Q. Wichita, Kans. — “Could the wine our Lord turned from water have been unfermented?” A. We do not believe our Lord would have anything to do with fermented wine which is intoxicating. That which our Lord brought about was a miracle. No one can say just ex actly what the constituency of the beverage actually was. The recipe was a heavenly one. Our holy Sav iour would not contribute to any thing which would harm any of His creatures. Q. Porterville, Calif. — “In Romans 7: 25, why did Paul say with the mind he would serve the law of God but with the flesh, the law of sin? I thought Christians should strive to overcome sin in the flesh.” A. The Bible rightly reminds us that in the flesh dwelleth no good thing. When a person is bom again, his old GOD IS IN EVERY TOMORROW God is in every tomorrow, Therefore I live for today. Certain of finding at sunrise. Guidance and strength for the way; Power for each moment of weakness, Hope for each moment of pain, Comfort for every sorrow. Sunshine and joy after rain. God is in every tomorrow. Planning for you and for me; E'en in the dark will I follow. Trust where my eyes cannot see. Stilled by His promise of blessing, Soothed by the touch of His hand, Confident in His protection. Knowing my life-path is planned. God is in every tomorrow. Life with its changes may come, He is behind and before me, While in the distance shines home! Home— where no thought of tomor row Ever can shadow my brow, Home— in the presence of Jesus, Through all eternity— now! nature is not made over, for it is just as sinful as ever. He is given new life in Jesus Christ. Salvation means that there is a new creation born within. The old is not even worth salvaging (Gal. 2:20). Paul was merely stating his case, elabor ated upon in the seventh chapter of Romans. He wants to serve the Lord and yet there is always that constant struggle with the things of the devil. But there is victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 13 ber, the Lord gives us hundreds and hundreds of chances in this life. Now is the day of salvation. Q. South Gate, Calif. — “ You declared that the commandments are not im portant. Christ said, however, ‘i f ye love me, keep my commandments’.” A. We have never stated that the commandments are not important. They are supremely important, not for salvation but as the standard of God’s holiness. Every one of them, except the fourth, referring to the Jewish Sabbath day, was repeated and elevated to an even higher plane in the New Testament by our Lord. They form the pattern for life. The Saviour, however, gives us His own comm andm en ts. See John 15:12 where we are instructed to love one another even as Christ loved us. I t has well been pointed out that this particular command is a summation of all the others. Love is really the fulfillment of all others. Read I John 3:23 for the commandment Christ requires us to keep. Q. Santa Ana, Calif. — “In Psalm 7:12 what does ‘whet’ his sword mean?” A. It means to sharpen it, getting ready for more slaughter as these wicked people never seem to have enough and are insatiable for blood. Q. Pueblo, Colo. — “Why do most peo ple baptize in the name of the Far ther and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, instead of in the name of Jesus Christ?” A. Because it is the method in which the Lord Jesus Christ instructs His followers (Matt. 28:18). To perform the ordinance w ith o u t the three names would not be in keeping with the teaching of Scripture. I t also teaches the unity of the Trinity. Q. Spokane, Wash. — “Where do some people get the idea of a second chance?” A. I t is certainly not taught in any way in Scripture. The idea of a “second chance” g e n e ra lly comes from natural theology and an erron eous interpretation of the Bible. Some have tried to make I Peter 3:18-20 the basis for their false teaching. If this were so, why is it that Scripture specifies th o se of Noah’s generation having a supposed second chance? Actually that gen eration was fa r more wicked than most. God wiped out the whole hu man race, except for eight people, because of their sinfulness. Neither does II Peter 3:9 affirm that man has another opportunity to be saved following death. God wants all men to come to repentance. However, at death it is forever too late. Remem- Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland (seated left), looks at material in the new Arizona Bible Colege catalog, with members of the ABC Staff. Next to him is Mr. Robert Boles, new business manager and member of the school's faculty. Standing behind are Mr. Vincent Morris,dean, Mr. Mervin Flshback, executive administrator, and Mr. VernonDoerksen, directorof public relations. Both Mr. Boles andMr.Doerksen are graduates of Talbot Theological Seminary. Q. Tucson, Ariz. — “ The second com mandment states that children of Is rael were not to make any graven images. Why then did they make the c h e r u b im ? Weren’t these graven images?” A. No, they are not. They made them because the Lord instructed them to do it. They represented the crea tures which worship God in the heav enly places. You see, the tabernacle is a replica of things in heaven. No where it is ever indicated that any individual, much less priest or high priest, ever worshipped them. God made the mercy seat His throne on earth. Q. Providence, R.l ---- “Can you please explain Matthew 28:1 regarding the place and time of the worship on the first day of the week?” A. The question is a little hard to understand. As to the time, the Jewish sabbath had ended. It was at the sta rt of a new day, at the dawn ing of Sunday or what we refer to as the Christian’s Lord’s Day. The day selected for specific worship is this time as a commemoration of the resurrection. While some people re fer to it as the sabbath that word technically has reference to Satur day. The Lord’s Day is the first day of the week. Q. Wichita, Kan. — “Is it wrong to marry against parental disapproval if the prospective mate is a born- again Christian? My parents are both Christians, too.” A. It is right for a child of God to take into account the feelings of the parents. An individual under 21 should actually rely all the more heavily upon parental suggestions. While we cannot know all of the cir cumstances, it would be well to get all of the individuals together at one time and in the spirit of prayer, submissible to the will of God, talk this over. There must be some valid reasons for your parents feeling the way they do. Keep in mind this im portant fact; you have no better friends having your interest at heart. Q. Portland, Ore. — “How does one overcome a fear of people so that he may witness to them about the Lord Jesus Christ? I just can’t seem to do it. Does the Bible say anywhere that every Christian has to?” A. The Scriptures do remind us that we are to be witnesses for the Lord’s honor and glory. Speaking audibly to others is really only one way to testify. Sometimes people carry their Bible with them as a witness. This is good. Others witness by attending church regularly. You see, we are all witnesses. In fact, you are the only Christian somebody knows. As to talking out, because of personality difference, this is easy for some and harder for others. Ask the Lord to give you strength. Use an indirect method, such as a church survey, to get you started. The best way to overcome fear is to get in and do it. Like everything, the more experi ence you have, the more effective you will be. Q. Sacramento, Calif. — “I heard from the Korean underground that the anti-Christ is now living in a 50- room castle about 50 miles from Baghdad in the middle east. Perhaps the second coming of Christ is soon er than we think. Have you heard anything of this?” A. We will agree that signs would indicate the nearness of the Lord’s return. We have heard rumors of various types similar to the one you mention. We know that in the last days there will come many false de liverers. It is always amazing to us how some people will credit just one statement of uncomfirmed rumor like this, whereas the blessed Word of God has been with us for centuries. Men will not take repeated evidences ness of such a means of witnessing for there are few statistics of any type from which to judge. Remem ber, in the final analysis, the Lord judges the heart. It is not necessarily right for you to do this ju st because the Lord wants someone else to do it. He uses different people in different ways. Perhaps we should thank the Lord that there are some who are willing to be fools for Christ’s sake. If people are willing to carry plac ards for all sorts of weird causes, why shouldn’t we do it for the Lord ? Q, (Name of city withheld) — “My hus band has just asked me for a divorce. He has been running around with another woman and says that he will continue to do so unless I give him a divorce. I am a Christian and don’t know what to do. Can you offer some suggestions?” A. We assume that this California friend has talked the matter over at some length with the husband to make sure that her information is correct, because she indicates that he says he will continue to do the same things that he has been doing. We would say to this dear lady: Is there a possibility of having your husband consult with you, alone, or with your pastor? The letter does not indicate whether the husband is a believer. Divorce should be the very last resort. If the husband is so ob stinate and unrepentant, it would seem that she has scriptural grounds to give him the divorce. If there are children in the home, then this is even more of a burden. We are in complete Christian sympathy with this dear woman. Q. Albany, Ore. — “Do you think a person, particularly a woman over forty, should go to the mission field? This is something I must answer soon.” A. There are too many factors in volved to give a yes or no answer. 16 that are found therein. There is a certain getting ready of the minds of men for something out of the realm of the natural. Do not be led away with that or any other false wind of doctrine. Remain steadfast and sure upon the Word of God. Read Matthew 2 for a list of char acteristic signs of the Lord’s return. Q. Walnut Creek, Calif. — “In I I Timo thy 1:8 we read, 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.’ Does this mean that Christians should not have any mental illness?” A. Timothy had been set apart for the ministry. Paul exhorted him not to enter the work half-heartedly, but with concern and conviction. He was encouraged not to be overly con cerned about fearing people. If one is worshipping the Lord and preach ing the Word of God, he need not be afraid what others think. God says through Paul to Timothy, God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, going into the ministry afraid of shadow, but of power, knowing that the Lord’s energizing is behind us. The sound mind refers not to mental ill ness but rather discipline in the Lord’s service. Christians, generally, are more sound than any other seg ment of the population. I t is true that many m en ta l illnesses have physical causes. In these days when men’s minds and hearts are failing with the fear of what is coming on the earth, we, as believers, can thank God that we are grounded and found ed on the Rock. Q. Cleveland, Ohio — “Often I have seen people walking down the main street of town shouting ‘Repent,’ along wtih other religious phrases. This has always bothered me, and I have lately wondered i f this is be cause I am not willing to do it.” A. One might question the effective- If you are going to some English- speaking country, you might qualify. To gain the mastery of a new lan guage a t that age would not be easy. Don’t go out to the field by faith, planting yourself at some mission station asking the missionaries to take care of you. Generally, it would seem that a woman over forty might find other avenues of service here in the homeland. There are, of course, many noteworthy exceptions. Q. Reseda, Calif----- “I have heard that the Catholic Church started the wor ship of the Lord on Sunday rather than Saturday. Is this true? Why is it we don’t worship on Saturday when the Bible doesn’t seem to in dicate that Sunday is the proper day?” A. There is no shred of evidence whatsoever that the Catholic Church started worship of the Lord on Sun day. This began with the resurrec tion of our Lord, long before the papacy began. The Roman Catholic Church eventually confirmed the first day of the week as the Christian day of worship since it had been so ob served so long. As to your second question, the Bible does indicate that Sunday is the proper day. Read the first four books of the New Testa ment, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. See the emphasis there being placed on the seventh day of the week. En tering the book of Acts, we see the significance of the first day of the week. This revolutionary change re sulted from the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no such thing which we can describe accur ately as a “Christian Sabbath.” I t is the Christian’s Lord’s Day. The Jew ish Sabbath day was an integral and inseparable part of the legal system completely fulfilled in Christ. It was only “a shadow” of spiritual reality (Col. 2:16). Q. North Kingston, R.l. — “Does man have a soul that does not die at death, or is he in a state of unconsciousness only? Is man immortal or is that the prize of eternal life to be gained by t h e believer when Christ comes again?” A, In a real sense the unbeliever’s soul is spiritually dead. He is not responsive to God. The Bible de- Graduates of this yeaf’s Talbot Theological Seminary gather around Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, Dean (eighthfrom the left seated). At the extreme left is Mr. Robert Bowles who has been graduated from Biola College as wel as Talbot Seminary attending school in his wheelchair. He has just recently been appointed to the staf andfaculty of Biola's afiliate in Phoenix, Arizona Bible College. 17 tinue in faith and charity and holi ness with sobriety.” Admittedly this is a difficult passage with numerous interpretations. One view is that the woman will be delivered from any dominion over man, that is taking her out of her appointed place. The way for her to escape this tempta tion is through the birth of a child. A second interpretation is more to the point for the main prerogative of a woman is for her to remain as queen in the home. "Childbearing” SUFFICIENT GRACE Sufficient grace, O Christ my Lord, Sufficient grace for me! Sufficient grace for life, for death. For all eternity! Sufficient grace to wash me clean, Though I was black with sin; Without, a whited sepulcher. And no good thing within, Sufficient grace to bear my yoke. To wipe my tears away, To give me rest and sleep by night, And living bread by day. Sufficient, yea, and more than this: There is no need of mine Which can exhaust or even touch That plenty which is Thine! Abundant fountain, full and free, The fountain of Thy grace, Whose depths I may not even guess Till I behold Thy face! — Martha Snell Nicholson implies not only giving birth to chil dren, but also “child rearing.” A woman who gives herself to her chil dren isn’t looking for worlds to con quer. She remains in her sphere of jurisdiction which God has delegated to her. Q. Berkeley, Calif. — “Will you please explain why it says in John 3:18 to believe ‘on’ Christ a n d also ‘in’ Him?” A. The words are used interchange dares, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Unless that person allows the Spirit of God to work in his heart, there will never be spiritual life. Physical death does not change the condition of the soul. This only takes place through an individual’s personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible pictures those who have gone out of this life, whether saved or unsaved, definitely as being con scious. There is blessedness for the saved and conscious torment for the •lost (Luke 16). The Word of God refers to the body, not the soul, as being immor tal. God bestows immortality upon the body of the believer. While an unbeliever’s body will be resurrected, not unto life, but rather to death. The spirit never dies but lives for ever either with God or in Hell. Q. Arcadia, Calif. — “With what body are the unsaved raised at the judg ment?" A. We do not know, for the Bible doesn’t reveal the nature of the body of the unsaved (John 5:28, 29). We know that the body of the unsaved will be cast immediately into the lake of fire following the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:12-15). Do not confuse this with the Bema judgment of Christ on the works of believers for reward. Salvation is not a reward, but rather the gift of God. The body of the unbeliever will be fashioned in eternity for punish ment. This is not a pleasant but really a repulsive thought. We would much prefer not to have to talk about it, but we must be true to the inspired Word of God. Q. Spring Valley, Calif. — “What did Paul mean in 1 Timothy 2:15?” f A. This passage needs to be consid ered in its context as we read the words of the women who “shall be saved in childbearing, if they con- 18
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